Getting Emotional
Getting emotional about selling your home is easy, especially when it is your first time. You invested a lot of time and effort in finding the right home, saving up for the down payment, the creating a lot of memories. Most people have a hard time keeping their emotions in check when it is time to say goodbye.
It is not impossible. When you decide that you are going to sell the house, start seeing yourself as a salesperson and businessperson instead of the homeowner. When selling your home, forget that you are the owner. This will allow you to look at it from a financial perspective, which makes it easier for you to distance yourself from the emotional aspect of selling.
Remember the time you were shopping for a home. The potential buyers are going to be in an emotional state. If you keep in mind that you are selling the property and also an image and a lifestyle, then you will be in a good position to stage the home and do minor remodelling to make sure you get the best offer for your home. The changes in appearance are going to help you get the best sale price and also create emotional distance because the house is going to look less familiar. As a side point, it may be worth seeing Four Labs.
Hiring or Not Hiring an Agent
Real estate agents charge a huge commission – this is commonly 5-6% of the price of your home, but it is not a good idea to sell it on your own. This is a bad idea for those who haven’t done it before. You might be tempted to do the selling yourself because you have seen many who have succeeded in doing so. Is it better to pay to hire an agent?
A good agent is going to have your interest in mind. They are going to help you set a competitive but still fair selling price for your house, which will increase your odds of selling it faster. They can also help with toning down the emotion of the process by dealing with the potential buyers. They can eliminate tire kickers who just want to look at your home and have no intention of making an offer.
An agent is experienced in negotiations and can help you get more money compared to how much you can get on your own. If any problems come up during the process – which is common in the real estate market – you can relax knowing you have a professional handling them. They are familiar with the pitfalls and paperwork involved in real estate transactions. The process is going to be smooth when you work with an experienced professional. You don’t have to stress about glitches and delays.
You are the one to decide whether to hire a real estate agent or not.
What to Do If you Don’t Hire an Agent
If you choose to sell your home on your own, then it is fine because it isn’t impossible to sell. Some have managed to do it on their own. Keep in mind that you are going to need to do your research first – looking at sold properties in your area and those currently in the market – so you can find an attractive selling price. Remember that home prices have an agent’s commission added, which can give you room to give a discount to a buyer.
You are going to handle your own marketing, make sure you get a multiple listing service (MLS) in your area so you can reach as many potential buyers as possible. Because you don’t have an agent, you are going to show the house and negotiate with the buyer’s agent. This process can be emotional, stressful, and time-consuming.